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Lasers for otosclerosis—which one if any and why
Author(s) -
Lesinski S. George
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1900100509
Subject(s) - footplate , stapedectomy , otosclerosis , stapes , laser , biomedical engineering , medicine , surgery , materials science , optics , middle ear , physics , thermodynamics
Laboratory stapedotomy and stapedectomy revisions were performed in human temporal bones while pyroelectric wave energy analyzers and ultrasensitive thermocouples measured energy absorption at the stapes footplate and in the vestibule. Analysis of these data shows that the visible lasers (argon and KTP‐532) possess ideal optical properties and precision for otosclerosis surgery but conversely have less than ideal tissue characteristics. The CO 2 laser possesses ideal tissue characteristics. Recent advances in optical engineering and pulsing the energy have increased the precision of this laser to now provide the accuracy required for delicate microsurgery. Two clinical studies analyze the long‐term hearing results and complications in patients who had undergone CO 2 laser stapedectomy revision (59 patients) and CO 2 laser stapedotomy (153 patients). The advantages that these laser techniques provide over conventional surgery methods are discussed.